Animex™ - The Countdown begins

Animex™, Middlesbrough's celebration of animation is running from Monday 27 to Friday 31 January. Organised by the University of Teesside and Middlesbrough Council, Animex™ will include talks from stars of the silver screen and television, special screenings of animated classics, animation work created by local people and, believe it or not, animation screened during a Middlesbrough Football Club match!

Here's a quick look at some of what Animex™ has to offer….

ANIMATION AT MIDDLESBROUGH FOOTBALL CLUB - Middlesbrough Football Club will be screening animation work created by various Tees Valley Community groups on the concourse screens during the half-time break in their match against Aston Villa on Tuesday 28 January (7.45 kick-off, animation screened at approximately 8.30pm).

NANCY CARTWRIGHT, the voice of Bart in the top TV animated programme The Simpsons, will be talking about her career and some of the memorable characters she has voiced on Thursday 30 January at 4pm at the University of Teesside's Europa Building. Nancy's talk is a major part of Animex™ Talk! - the two-day industry conference hosted by the University from Thursday 30 - Friday 31 January.

ANIMEX™ TOWN - Tuesday 28 January, 6.30 - 8.30pm, a showcase of animation made by community groups in the Tees Valley at the University of Teesside's Europa Building. Friends and family of community groups who have submitted animation and the general public are warmly invited. To attend, please call Sue Gilbert or Stefan Klidzia at the University's Centre for Life Long Learning on 01642 384280/384248.

JASON SCHLEIFER, from WETA, the company behind the effects and animation for The Lord of the Rings trilogy, will deliver a talk entitled: Animating Tolkien's World on Friday 31 January at 4pm at the University of Teesside's Europa Building. With the first part of the trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring, winning an Academy Award for its visual effects and the current film, The Two Towers, recently being nominated for another Oscar for its visual effects, Jason's talk is bound to be of interest.

ANIMEX™ STUDENT ANIMATION AWARD LAUNCH - Animex™ is proud to launch its first Student Animation Awards for 2004. Launched on Thursday 30 January at 2pm at the University of Teesside's Europa Building, the competition is open to animation students from around the world. ANIMEX™ ON THE STREET - Animation will be screaming out from Middlesbrough's pubs, clubs, shops, walls, pavements throughout the week of Animex™. Where exactly? Who knows...but you'll know about it when you see it!

DAVID WILLIAMS, a local artist whose amazing and unique, moving 'animatronic' artwork is on display at a free exhibition at the first floor of the Cleveland Centre, Middlesbrough, (accessed via the Grange Road entrance) from Saturday 18 January to Sunday 2 February, 10.30am - 4.30pm. Anyone visiting the exhibition will also have the chance to win one of his fantastic automatic drawing machines, valued at over £700!

TICKET COSTS - Tickets are priced £30 for unwaged/students, £50 for waged. Tickets allow access to all areas of Animex™ Talk! (the two-day industry conference based at the University of Teesside from Thursday 30- Friday 31 January), including the Animex™ After Hours *(a drinks/discussion night at the UGC Cinema) and the Animex™ Festival Party *(at the Purple Onion) and two of the special animation screenings at Middlesbrough's UGC Cinema.

*Over 18's only!

Animex™ also includes screenings of animated classics at Middlesbrough's UGC Cinema and various workshops for animators. See: www.animex.net for more information.

Animex™ has attracted generous sponsorship and support from a range of organisations including Northern Film and Media, ONE NorthEast and Middlesbrough's Community and Cultural Fund (supported by Middlesbrough Council in conjunction with the Streets Ahead Single Regeneration Budget). Other sponsors include Middlesbrough Partnership, festival hotel Gisborough Hall, communications company Onyx Internet and training organisation ClickHere.

For more information on Animex™, including booking details, visit our website: www.animex.net, email: info@animex.net or call 01642 342678/342653.

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